Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is important for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
